The prevalence of functional impairment among people aged over 65 years staying in their home environment

Background
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of functional impairments in people over 65 years of age.

Material and methods
The study included 504 people (329 women, 175 men) aged over 65 years living in the Subcarpathian region of Poland. The data was obtained through the use of a diagnostic survey using the direct questionnaire technique. The survey included the following research tools: the Barthel scale, the Lawton scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale, the Abbreviated Mental Test Score, and an interview questionnaire of the authors’ own construction.

Results
Respondents capable of performing basic everyday activities comprised more than half of the studied population (58.53%; n=295), those partially impaired constituted 35.32% (n=178), and 6.15% (n=31) were fully impaired. The vast majority of participants (n=458; 90.87%) needed help in performing complex activities. Higher Barthel scale scores indicated better performance in basic everyday activities was obtained by seniors with normal vision and hearing, fewer diseases, and higher education.

Conclusions
The most frequent deficits in performing basic life activities were controlling urine, moving on flat surfaces, and climbing and descending stairs. Determinants of functional disability among the study subjects were advancing age, female gender, low education level, widowhood, more illnesses, and cognitive and emotional decline.